Catadioptric signal light



April 20, 1954 Filed June 4, 1955 I .1. R. DILLON CATADIOPTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lizl John 7?, Dillon INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 0, 1954 J. R. DILLON CATADIOPTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT Filed June 4, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 2 lion John R. 0,5

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 20, 19 54 .1. R. DILLON 2,676,312 CATADIOPTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT Filed June 4, 1953 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 1): R. Dillon INVENTOR l BY 7 1 I I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,676,312 CATADIOPTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT John Roy Dillon, Raleigh, N. C.

Application June 4, 1953, Serial No. 359,520

12 Claims. (Cl. 340'84) {This invention relates to a catadioptricsignal light, and has for its primary object the provision of a signal light such as a traflic light or the like which will be visible from the side at materially greater distances than those signal lights presently in use. An additional object of the invention'is the provision of a signal light composed of an inner beam "of light or colorless light and an outer beam of colored light.

A further object of the invention is the pro- .vision of a means for projecting such a beam whereby the outer edges of the colored beam as seen in profile. aresharply defined rather than diffused as is presently common to color light,

thus rendering the signal more acutely visible.

"Still another object of the invention is the provision'of a means for projecting an annular ring or corona of colored. light surrounding as a tubular sleeve an inner white or colorless beam.

' An additional object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the color of the surrounding sleeve may be varied either manually or automatically as desired. I

,Still another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism providing a suitable arrangement of color filters so that any one of the plural colors required as a signal may by automatic means such as a solenoid switch be projected from a single source of light instead "of separate and distinct sources for each color.

, An additional object of the invention is the provision of a signal light which may be readily adapted for such means as switch'and sema phorerailro'ad signals, airfield landing signals,

If a-colored light beam is interposed between the observer and a colorless beam the color light will be visible due to the catadioptric'effect of the more luminous colorless beam. It is an important object of this invention therefore to provide a means for interposing such a colorless light'beam between a colored light beam and the observer in the form of a colorless beam surrounded by a concentric colored sleeve.

It may further be pointed out that an overlapping of the beams will neutralize the color by over brilliance if there is extreme imbalance in the lumen value 01- the beams. It is a further object of this invention therefore to provide a single source of light for both the colored and colorless beams whereby the lumen value of both will be substantially identical.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for the projection of such concentric beams which will be'reliable and efficient in operation, and which will provide a light beam visible from the side at a maximum distance from the observer, in any one of a selected plurality of desired colors.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of coast and airline beacons, highway and street trafiic signals, and emergency signals.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a signal light which may be readily adapted'to mobile units, such as' 'motor vehicles orf'the like and particularly to' emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances fire ensince, and similar automotive vehicles. 1 TI As-conduciVe' to a clearer 'understandiri'gof this invention, it"may here be'poin'ted out that the'perception of rays of light, particularly in darkness is due to the illumination of minute particles of matter suspended in the atmosphere. This atmospheric minutiae consists largely of water 'globules and silicon with other'matter present according to locale and conditions. Normally the lumen valueof a colored ray such as red is not of sufiicient intensity to illuminate these minute particles to'the degree of visibility. t'lihlerefore the' solid beam of color-is impercepbeT-C- 11;..2. 11.1.5.1; 1'

construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown an illustrated embodiment of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side sectional view taken substantially through the center line of one form of device embodying the instant invention.

Fig; 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

f Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the'line 3'-3 of Fig. l.

" Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 of Fig. 1.

"- Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line' 5 '"5 of Fig. l-as viewed in the direction indicated'by'the arrowspand i Fig. 6"is fanenlarged' sectional view showing certain details of construction of the filter assembly of the device.

' Similar reference characters refer to similar p'a'rts'throughout the several views of the draw- I Since the device of the instant invention produces what may be'termed a solid central beam "of light, surrounded by a sleeve or corona, it will be referred to hereinafter as a corona beam,

in lieu oi more descriptive terminology. Having reference now to'the drawings in' detail thereis generally indicated at 10 a lamp 3 housing or casing, of generally parabolic configuration. Casing l terminates at its lower extremity in a peripheral flange ll, surrounding a central aperture, upon which flange H is seated a second concentric flange l2 comprising the lower portion of a cylindrical lamp-containing housing 13. A concaved lower closure member 14 is also provided with an annular flange l5 which is' suitably secured in anydesired manner to the flange I'l. ber I4 is a lamp socket base 16 containing a lamp socket I! in which is mounted a lamp surrounded by a parabolic reflector. 1.9..

Light rays from lamp l8 pass through a. central aperture in a tubular member 20, which comprises an extension of a parabolic reflector 2|, through an axial lens 22 which lens diffuses the rays to the sides of parabolic reflectors 2|- as indicated by the arrows, and thence outwardly through a colorless lens 23,..to. be. more fully described hereinaften. By means. of. this assembly thecentral core. or. white-or. colorless beam of-light is projected.-

Theupper extremity oi lamp-containing housing 13 is also provided, with. a flangelB, to which is" secured, as by means of screws. 2.6! anlannular flange 21 comprising the. lowermost portion. of a second upper. parabolic reflector 28, the purpose of which will-bemore fully described hereinafter. Screws 26 also serverto secure-tothe. assembly a colorless coronalens generally indicatedat 30 Corona lens I 30 is. toroidal: in shape. and generally concavo-con-vex in. cross" sectional configuration. The concave portion of. lens--30 however is pro.- vided with prismoidirregularities 31 to increase the surface for thepurpose-of. light absorption and equalize: the distribution oi light from prismatic lens l9;- 1

Theexterior periphery of extension. is. provided with protruding. lugs. 35, which serye to support afilterassemhly. generally. indicated at 35. Filter assembly 36 generally includes a re.- tainer 3i, concentric with acolor filter preferably composed-.ofLucite, and including-oppositely disposed segments of. green 39-49; red 40-40- and yellow-M4 (seeFig. 3%. v

Theassembly orcolored disc 3% is, preferably composed of Lucite or. similar nonecond-uctive material, and is adapted tobe carriedbyradial spokes (see Fig. 3), the tipsofiwhich latter may be covered with-graphite to provide, lubrication when the device isrotated.- Ther spokes 45 areseated in suitable. recesses irnthe. disc.

Theentire discassembly-iscarried by a carrier member generally indicated at;5ll, including, a depending. annular flange: St. The. disc; is--also positioned for rotation between two: opposed halvesof. a shutter member 52-, the latter being provided with suitablev apertures 53aada'pted to expose:- cpposedcelor. segmentsot similar colors simultaneously. As best shownsineliig. the -red segments of. the color discar'ee shownasexpesed in the" apertures 53;, the yellow and greensegmentsbeing' covered by the solidportipns thereof.

Solenoids 55 are provided at spaced intervals about the periphery of flange 54:, and maybe selectively energized. to expose a. suitable-or: desired color to the apertures in shutter member 52;

desiredconventional manner, eitherby-mechanical means or manually in accordance with the proposed. use of. the device; It willthus be seen that in accordancewith. the position. of the color disc; relativewto, the apertures-irrthe shutter a certain color; oblight -will=berefraeted between Seated in the bottom of mem- These. solenoids may 'beenergized in. any

parabolic members 21 and 28. Between these members there is positioned a diffusion preventing lens which is preferably comprised of a device formed by bonding transparent colorless strips to like spacers to form a concentric unit. The wide parallel surfaces of the lens strips are dulled to prevent cross reflection. The lens 58 is adapted to be supported as by means of pins 51 and: spacers 6 2. The lens tllfiimmediately adjacent the previously mentioned cover plate 23, which is held in position as by means of a glass retaining rim 63, adapted to clamp against a. bushing or similar annular ring 64. Suitable vent" openings are provided to allow disseminationiot heat through the device.

Similarly vent openings 66 are provided in annular ring I3" topermit the escape of heat from thebulb It.

It is to be noted thatxthe ring 35 contains ports or vents 88 which function. to admit light rays from bulb. 18 to the inner section of the toroidal lens. 30;

Ordinarily the concentrationoi. color light in the, inner areaot lens. 3|] would be disproportionate to color in the outer areav due, to the depth ofthe inner section and, to. the lesser. depth of the outer section. By the introduction of colorless light to the area of. concentratedcolor there is uniform distribution of" colortliroughout the lens with consequent lumen value of. maximum brilliance.

From the foregoing the operation of. thedevice should now be readily apparent.

Light fromthe bulb 1.8 1s. diffused. by. means of parabolic reflector. I9. asindieatedby the. arrows partially. through the. axial lens. 22., and thence from parabolicrefiector 21. outwardly to faceplate 23 to. provide a substantially cylindrical beam of. clear. or.white..light'..

An additional portion of the; light. from. the bulb l8-is diffusedlthrough. the. color. filter assembly 36, and. thence through lens3ll between para bolic reflector 21 and ofi. of parabolic. reflector 28 through. the; lens 60, and thence. outwardly asindicated by the,arr.ows totheface plate 23. This light is colored in. accordance with the relative position of the. color filter therein, and provides a corona or. sheath about thecentrat core of white light, thus. providing. acolored light beam illuminatedby. a. clear light beam to the rear thereof, relative to the observer.

In the above described illustration. it will be seen that a. plurality of. colored. beams maybe provided, forv use with; trai'fid signals or the like.

However when. it. is: desired to utilize this invention in connectionwith motor vehicles for example such-as fire engines: or thealilce-wherein only one. color asfor example red is necessary; the-color filter. may be. locked in position in any desired manner, inasuch manner that" only: the red beam isexp-osech; correspondingly-in use with private motor. vehioleswherewithzno;colored lights are permitted afog filter maybe substituted for thecolor filter. Similarly inthe-use of emergency vehicles the fogfllter and' color filter may be utilized simultaneously. When. utilized for changing signalsqthee steel traction. member ID is actuated by' means of the'solenoid; 5.5"to occasion rotation of the device relativeto the apcr. tures in the shield 52:v

There is thus provided a corona: beam, comprising. an inner area of. clear or white, light and an" outer area of) selectivecolored. light in. the form of a corona. or: sleeve, which. accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others;

5. including" many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As manyembodiments may be made or this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is" to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense;

I claim:

1. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signallight in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding saidaperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, and a third parabolic reflector about said light source to dilens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam.

2. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said openin directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, and a color filter between said toroidal lens and said light source.

3. In a device for projecting'a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directin light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, and a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, said toroidal lens being concavo-convex in cross section. 4. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signal light in'the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, and a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about i said first mentioned beam, said toroidal lens being concavo-convex in cross section and hav ing its concave surface provided with a plurality of prismoidal irregularities to increase the light absorbing surface. I

20 met a portion of said light through said toroidal 5'. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial 'with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, and a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, said toroidal lens being concavo-convex in cross section and having its concave surface provided with a plurality of radially disposed prismoidal irregularities to increase the light absorbing surface. v v 6. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, a color filter between said toroidal lens and said light source said color filter having a plurality of colors thereon, and a shutter for shielding all but a selected one of said colors.

7. In a device for proiecting a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a'parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed-opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, a color filter between said toroidal lens and said light source said color filter having a plurality of colors thereon, a

shutter for shielding all but a selected one of said colors, and means for rotating said color filter.

8. In a device for projecting a catadioptric signal light in the form of a corona-beam, a source of light, a. parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic reflector about said light source to direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens between said first and second parabolic reflectors to form a coronalike light beam about said first mentioned beam, a color filter between said toroidal lens and said light source said color filter having a plurality of colors thereon, a shut- 7: ter: ior shielding all. but. a selected one of said colorsand solenoid means-for rotating :said color filter.-

9'. In a device-forprojeoting acatadioptric signallight inthe-forrn-of a corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolicv reflector coaxial. with said sourceof light having a centrally disposed opening-,, an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said parabolic reflector to form a light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a secondparabolic reflector concentric with said first parabolic reflector butexterior of the outerperiphery-of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic-reflector about said light source to direct a. portion of said light through said toroidal lens betweensaid first andsecond parabolic reflectors to form' a corona-like light beam about said first mentioned beam, and a-difiusion preventing lens between the. outer peripheral edgesof said first and second parabolic reflectors.

10,; In a device for: projecting: a catadioptric signal lightin the form. of a corona beam, a source of light, a parabolic reflector. coaxial with said sourceof v light. having; a centrally disposed opening. an axial lens in said opening directing light rays towards said. parabolic reflector to forma light beam, a toroidal lens surrounding said aperture, a second parabolic reflector concentric-with said. firstparabolic reflector but exterior of theouter periphery of said toroidal lens, a third parabolic reflector about said-light source todirect a. portion of. said light through said toroidal lens between said-first and second parabolic reflectors to form a coronaelike light beam aboutsaid firstmentioned beam, and a diflusion preventing lens between: the outer peripheral edges of said first and second. parabolic reflectors, said lens being: formed. of a. plurality of transparent colorless strips and a plurality of transparent color-less spacersto form: a concentric ring.

11. In a device for projecting a. catadioptric signal light inthe form ofa corona-beam, a source of light, a parabolicreflector-coaxial with said source of light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial lens in saidropening directing light. rays towards. said parabolic reflector to form a light. beam, a toroidal'lenssurrounding said. aperture, a secondv parabolic reflector, concentric with said. first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer, periphery of said toroidal lens, a thirdparabolic reflector about said. light source to direct a portion ofsaid light through said toroidal lens. between said first and second parabolic reflectors to forma corona-like light beam about saidfirst mentioned beam, and a diffusion preventing lens between the outer peripheral edges of. said first and second parabolioreflectors, said lens beingformed of a plurality of transparent colorless strips and a plurality of transparent-colorless spacersto form a concentric ring, the parallel surfaces, of said stripsbeing dulled to prevent cross reflection.

l2. Ina device for projecting a catadioptric signal. light in the form, of a: corona-beam, a source oflight, a parabolic reflector coaxial with said source of. light having a centrally disposed opening, an axial. lens in. said openingdirecting light rays towards: said. parabolic reflector to form: alight beam, a toroidallens surrounding said. aperture, a second parabolic. reflector concentric With said first parabolic reflector but exterior of the outer periphery oisaid toroidal lens, athird parabolic reflector about said light source to. direct a portion of said light through said toroidal lens betweensaid first and second parabolic reflectors to form a coronaelike light beam about said first mentioned beam, saidv toroidal lens being concavo-convex in cross section and having its concave surface provided with a plurality of radially disposed prismoidal. irregularities to increase the light. absorbing surface, a color filter between said. toroidal lens and said light source, saidcolor filter having aplurality of colors thereon, a shutter. for shielding. all but a selected one of said' colors, solenoid means for rotatingsaid color filter, and a diffusion preventing lens between. the outer peripheral edges of said firstv and second parabolic reflectors, said lensbeing formed of av plurality of transparent colorless strips and a. plurality of transparent colorless spacers to form. a concentric ring, the parallel surfaces of said strips being dulled to prevent cross reflection.

No references cited. 

